Faux leather, also known as fake, synthetic, or leatherette is essentially an imitation of real leather but is faux leather good quality?
The quality of faux leather varies greatly depending on the material that the faux leather is made from. If the faux leather is made from polyvinyl or polyurethane materials then you will have faux leather material that looks exactly like real leather that is also usually good quality.
Faux leather made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU) materials are usually the best quality faux leather and are also very easy to produce.
These kinds of faux can look very close to real leather and be soft, supple, and durable.
Faux leather made from natural materials like mushroom, pineapples, etc is usually very natural feeling like real leather but the same cannot be said in terms of quality and durability.
For what’s worth, most of these inventions have not been around long enough for us to know how well they fare as they age.
This means there are other types of faux leather and in the rest of this article, I will go over what faux leather is, the different types of faux leather, the things that make faux leather good quality, other benefits, and their downsides.
What Is Faux Leather?
Faux leather simply means leather that is not made from animal skins. This means that any material that is made to look like leather is faux. While there are several different types of faux leather, the most common types you will often come across are the ones made from polyvinyl and polyurethane materials.
While these two types of faux leather look exactly like real leather, they may not be as comfortable to to use for an extended period of time.
Faux leathers made from natural materials like mushrooms, pineapples, etc are usually very natural feeling like real leather but the same cannot be said in terms of their quality and durability.
What Makes Faux leather Good Quality?
As mentioned before, there are different types of faux leather but we will focus on those made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane materials as they are the most common ones on the market today.
There are a few things that make these faux leather good quality. Below are a few of the most important ones.
1. Faux Leather Does Not Crack Easily
One of the things that make faux leather good quality is that it is less likely to crack, unlike real leather that will crack if you do not condition or clean it regularly.
This makes faux leather a durable option for furniture and handbags, among other items where you need to be sure that it will hold up well – at least throughout its stipulated lifespan.
This can be attributed to the fact that faux leather is made from plastics so it does not crack easily. This will make your faux leather goods like furniture look new for longer and ensure the material offers you the quality that you need.
2. Faux Leather Does Not Wrinkle Easily
Another thing that also makes faux leather good quality is that it does not wrinkle as much as leather.
This is because faux leather is made from plastics and this makes the material stiffer than real leather.
It is this stiffness that makes it less likely to wrinkle than real leather. This means you will be able to use your faux leather goods for longer and they will always look new.
Usually what happens when it comes to real leather is that wrinkles will appear due to temperature changes, moisture, frequent use, and a host of other factors.
However, when it comes to faux leather, wrinkles are less likely to appear from temperature changes or moisture.
This makes faux leather a lot more resistant to wrinkling and it ensures your faux leather good looks new for longer.
The wrinkles you would get on your faux leather items like shoes, jackets, etc will all appear over a longer period of time from wear.
3. Faux Leather Require Very Little To No Maintenance
Next, faux leather also requires very little maintenance, unlike real leather that needs to be conditioned or cleaned regularly.
This is because faux leather will not dry up or crack when it is not conditioned or when it does not get cleaned regularly. Faux leather can be wiped off with a damp cloth and will look new again.
This is because faux leather does not absorb liquids the way real leather will. This ensures that when you use your faux leather good handbags, you will not have to worry about them getting damaged or looking old.
This is also a great feature of faux leather that makes it good quality and user-friendly.
4. Faux Leather Is Resistant To Dirt And Stains
Faux leather is a nonporous material so it is very resistant to dirt or any other substance that might get on it.
This means it is a lot easier to clean faux leather goods than real leather.
So you will be able to use your faux leather items for longer than if they were real because of the fact that dirt is very easy to clean with water or any other substance.
Not only that, but faux leather is also resistant to stains. Meaning any stains that get onto your faux leather goods will come off easily without leaving any lasting marks.
This is because faux leather does not absorb the dirt or stains that come into contact with it.
This makes faux leather goods like shoes, jackets, furniture, and handbags more resistant to stains than real leather which is another thing that makes faux leather good quality.
All these things about faux leather make it a great option for your furniture, handbags, and other goods where you need a material that is stain resistant.
5. Faux Leather Is UV Resistant
On top of all the things that make faux leather good quality is also the fact that it is UV resistant.
This means if you leave your faux leather goods in direct sunlight, such as on a chair or sofa, it will not fade the way real leather would.
This is because faux leather surfaces are treated with a protective coating and this makes it more resistant to UV rays than real leather.
With this, you will be able to use your faux leather goods for longer as they will not fade from being exposed to the sun.
Other Important Reasons Why Faux Leather Is Good
Faux Leather Is Cruelty-Free
Faux leather is cruelty-free and vegan meaning it does not contain any animal byproducts. This is one of the things that has become very important to most consumers, particularly when it comes to fashion.
Many people are looking for faux leather options that do not come at the expense of any animal’s life.
But it can be argued that the majority of leathers come as a byproduct from the meat industry and if these animal by-products are not utilized for leather, they would end up in landfill sites all around the world.
So utilizing this animal byproduct for leather actually frees up our landfill and damping sites.
But this argument stands especially for the farm animals raised for their meat. Exotic animals that are not farmed for their meat will have to be hunted and this is where faux leather comes in handy.
This is because any type of exotic animal skin can be replicated by the manufacturers to create a faux leather product without cruelly hunting and killing these animals.
So if you are looking for something that is cruelty-free and vegan, then faux leather options are the way to go.
Faux Leather Is Affordable
Faux leather is also good because it is affordable. Real leather goods are often expensive and may not be within the budget of your average consumer. But faux leather can get you the same quality for a lower price.
This is one of the reasons why faux leather has become very popular in recent years because it can be within the budget of the average consumer.
This is why many brands have been incorporating faux leather because it can be affordable and still provide good quality to the consumer.
So if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to real leather and still want something that is of good quality, then faux leather is the way to go.
Faux Leather Is Good For The Environment
Another important reason why faux leather is good is that its production requires a very small amount of water to produce instead of the large amounts used during the tanning of real leather.
This is why faux leather is often called the green alternative to real leather because it has less impact on our planet, which means less waste and more recycling.
Apart from faux leather using less water during its production, faux leather is also often made from recycled plastic bottles which can help reduce our landfills.
So if you are looking for something that is good for the environment, then faux leather is the way to go.
Comes In Wide Variety Of Colors
Faux leather also comes in a variety of color options. Real leather only comes in a few color options and this can be limiting if you want something that is more colorful or brighter than what real leather has to offer.
But faux leather comes in a variety of colors and shades that can help you choose products or customize your product according to what you need or want.
So if you are looking for something that comes in a variety of colors, then faux leather is what you should be going with.
Faux Leather Comes With A Variety Of Patterns And Designs
There is no pattern or design you can’t get when it comes to faux leather. Faux leather can come in a variety of patterns and designs.
You can have a range of patterns from exotic animal skins to simple but stylish geometric patterns.
With faux leather, the design and pattern spectrum is endless so you can have whatever you desire.
So if you are looking for something that comes with a variety of patterns, then faux leather is the way to go.
Faux Leather Is Waterproof
Faux leather is also waterproof which means no more worrying about spills and stains. This can also be attributed to the fact that most faux leathers are nonporous.
Meaning no moisture or liquid can get absorbed into it.
So if you’re looking for something that is waterproof then faux leather is the way to go.
Faux Leather Can Be Given Different Finishes
If you want leather with a matte, smooth, or glossy finish faux leather is the way to go.
Many brands now manufacture faux leather with different finishes which means you can choose whatever finish best suits your needs and preferences.